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Rethinking Work Tip
The Power of Our [Your] Values
On Friday, May 22, 2009, “The Boston Globe” ran this President Obama front-page quote: “I believe with every fiber of my being that in the long run we also cannot keep this country safe unless we enlist the power of our most fundamental values…. Time and again, our values have been our best national security asset.”
During the past nineteen years, I have guided hundreds of people through the process of Rethinking Work based on President Obama’s very premise: to enlist the power of our [your] most fundamental values.”
Clarity and use of your core values cannot only be your best defense, but also your best offense. When I asked Whitney, a programmer and sculptor, to complete the Rethinking Work values sort, she was amazed at her discovery. Her top five surfaced as
• Creativity: Finding a twist, an original way to put things together
• Closeness with my family: Actively participating in pursuits with my husband and children
• Spirituality: Deepening meaningfulness by connecting to others in life
• Sexuality: Enjoying my husband’s companionship
• A feeling my life counts: Creating something of significance and leaving it to others
Whitney found it hard to take any of these values off her list.
I said, “Maybe you don’t have to. But, do you see a common thread?”
Whitney said, “All my values concern being in the present and making a connection. I’m curious, though, what does working as a programmer have to do with making a connection? Mostly, I work alone.”
”Maybe, in your mind’s eye, you’re connecting to customers as you write a program. Alternatively, this value may be developing more importance in your life.”
”Yes,” Whitney said, “you’re absolutely right. My desire is to cut back on my programming and bring my sculpture into the world. I want to connect with people by selling my work at galleries and lecturing at schools, colleges, and, possibly, museums.”
Once you begin the process of consciously clarifying and utilizing your core values, you may suddenly realize that it costs you less to change and grow, than it does to keep supporting your unhappiness.
Cliff Hakim
Founder & Principal
Rethinking Work®
http://mappingthinking.com/trust
After taking the MindTime® Survey, I was amazed to discover the instrument’s descriptive accuracy. With great enthusiasm, I’ve adopted MindTime® as part of the Rethinking Work® process and hear consistently from my clients how clarifying and validating their results have been as a means for navigating a new future.
Cliff Hakim
cliff@rethinkingwork.com
or 617.661.1250